How to reduce your family carbon footprint?
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the environment is changing. The seasons are becoming harder and harder to tell apart with high temperatures at Christmas and snow storms on Easter. It is becoming increasingly evident to everyone that something must be done. Though large measures need to be taken by the government and major corporations, there are things that residents can start doing to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve natural resources. If you and your family would like to do more for the environment, these tips are sure to come in handy.
Solar energy
If you have the money to invest, the best first step to take would be to consider solar energy. Solar panels aren’t as expensive as they used to be, especially if you work with local installation experts. For example, if you live in Provo, you can do a quick search for solar power utah on your phone and find companies willing to give you reasonable rates on such a large renovation. Depending on the number and capacity of the solar panels you have installed, it’s possible that all of your appliances would be able to run on solar power, reducing your energy consumption and carbon footprint. You can install a few panels or have the entire house overhauled for even more savings and conservation.
Grow your own food
For homeowners who have a green thumb and the space for growing crops, growing your own food is a healthy eco-friendly tip. There are crops that are very easy to grow yourself including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and green leafy vegetables. Even if you start a window garden with fresh herbs, it reduces your need to commute to the grocery store which saves valuable resources.
Make your own cleaning supplies
There are a lot of air contaminants in the home you may not have been aware of. If you want to improve the air quality in your home and help the environment, start making your own cleaning supplies. With a few ingredients you likely already have in the kitchen, you can make efficient cleaning agents for just about every room in your house.
Go paperless
Do you have mountains of paper in your home? All the bills and documents you’ve collected over the years is creating a fire hazard, and it’s attractive to pests like mice. If you want to do yourself and the environment a favor, go paperless to resolve the matter. Scan all of your important paperwork and save it in a secure filing system on your computer. Then shred the piles of paper and put it out for recycling. Lastly, contact all of your bill collectors and service providers and ask for digital copies of your bills to reduce the amount of paper being used.
Change the way you do laundry
Your washer and dryer may be convenient, but they also use a lot of natural resources. You can help to reduce your carbon footprint by changing up a few minor details about the way you do laundry. For instance, washing all your clothes in cold water conserves energy. Also, hanging up your clothes to line dry instead of using the dryer drives down energy usage.
Upgrade appliances
Has it been a while since you purchased a new furnace, hot water heater, washer, dryer, stove, or refrigerator? If this is the case, it may be time for an upgrade. Most appliances lose efficiency over time, which results in them working ten times harder and using more energy than necessary. Modern appliances are designed to use less energy, so investing in those products can cut that energy bill and reduce your carbon footprint.
Keep up with maintenance
This one may come as a surprise, but you can really cut down on wasted energy by keeping up with routine maintenance. Making sure that you have the furnace, heater, and air conditioner serviced, getting periodic energy audits, and making your home more efficient are all methods of reducing your carbon footprint. Schedule those annual and bi-annual maintenance appointments or learn how to do general repairs on your own.
There is only one Earth and if families don’t start doing something to promote change, eventually there won’t be much left for anyone. You can start cutting back on waste and reducing your carbon footprint by trying a few or all of the ideas listed above. As you start incorporating these in your household, you may also notice huge savings on your utility bills, which is always a plus!